River cruisers who bemoaned the passing of Crystal Cruises in 2022 have sister and brother Anouchka and Gregor Gerlach to thank for its reincarnation in Riverside Cruises.
The entrepreneurial siblings, who share 40 years within the lodge trade as house owners of the Seaside Assortment, discovered Crystal’s fleet of luxurious vessels to be an ideal complement to the Seaside model of 11 luxe-boutique properties in Europe and the Maldives. They swiftly bought Crystal’s river ships, named for classical composers: Crystal Mozart, Bach, Mahler, Debussy and Ravel.
The most important of the quintet, the luxurious Mozart, was inbuilt 1987 and refurbished in 2016. In April 2023, it launched once more on the Danube because the flagship of the brand new Riverside Assortment.
The Debussy traverses the Rhone, Mosel, and Rhine, a widespread route that travels from Amsterdam to Basel and consists of elements of the Danube. The Ravel sails the Rhone from Burgundy to Provence in France. Two of the opposite former Crystal ships are now operated by Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
Thirty p.c of all European river cruise passengers journey the Danube. The double-wide Mozart units the bar excessive for luxurious cruises with consideration to each element. “We wish to showcase a extra wonderful private service, together with an elevated culinary expertise second to none,” Gregor Gerlach stated.
Key gamers
On the primary night of our crusing, we met our Hungarian captain, Bela Burjan, and “govt chef, Johannes Bear, of Austria. Our most important level of contact was lodge director Sonja Gruber, who appeared to be in all places on the ship.
“We are able to accommodate 162 visitors in 81 suites, and with 82 crew, that’s greater than different river traces,” Gruber stated. “We satisfaction ourselves on offering a greater, private but skilled service. We’re going for the worldwide clientele in search of an upscale expertise second to none. Our visitors come from throughout the world, and every visitor is in search of one thing totally different.”
Aboard the Mozart
At 395 ft lengthy and 75 ft huge, the luxurious four-deck Riverside Mozart is almost twice the width of different Danube riverboats. It {couples} a recent design with unmatched service and loads of room to seek out peace and quiet in much less crowded areas.
After lengthy days of shore excursions, visitors hover across the piano bar at night time or mingle with the pleasant bartenders. On heat summer time nights or throughout journey days, visitors stargaze on cozy loungers on the highest deck.
Inclusions embody free wi-fi, meals in any respect 4 eating places and bars, and a beverage bundle. There may be additionally a handy self-service laundry room. The boat additionally carried 30 bicycles for use in Vienna, Budapest, and smaller cities or extra countryside rides alongside the Danube throughout stopovers.
Lodging
Every room comes with river views, king or twin beds with plush bedding, marble bogs, luxurious silks and linens, flat-screen tv, glass rain showers, and Nespresso espresso machines.
A half-dozen home-away-from-home suites vary from the Symphony and Mozart suites to the Proprietor Suite, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom retreat of 860 sq. ft.
The meticulous housecleaning workers refreshes rooms twice day by day. Customized butlers, on name on WhatsApp 24/7, graciously make spa appointments and dinner reservations.
Epicurean delight
Few river cruises can boast the culinary choices on the all-inclusive Mozart. The essential eating room, the Waterside Restaurant, gives open breakfast, lunch, and dinner seating. The breakfast buffet is second to none, with extra candy and savory choices than I’ve ever had on a river cruise. An omelet station serves made-to-order egg dishes. Within the night, prix-fixe dinner plates embody Arancini (golden saffron risotto balls topped with tomato basil ragout and Parmesan cheese). Trio of Mangalica (Hungarian pig) was a standout, that includes pork cheek, stomach, and fillet, as was the tomato-mushroom herb-crusted Gratinated Butter Fish.
The Bistro serves late-risers, very similar to an elevated espresso home. It additionally gives night tapas and shared Austro-Hungarian plates. The Blue Deli on Deck 3 is another for an off-the-cuff lunch of burgers, pasta, or sandwiches. Casual barbecues happen on the highest deck on the Rooftop Grill. Room service can be out there 24 hours a day.
Within the top-flight Classic Room, eating is all about wine pairings: The sommelier chooses the wine, the chef creates the meal in response to the picks. This seven-course culinary occasion, designed for six to 12 visitors, prices 295 Euros per particular person. It’s price noting that every one passengers’ dietary wants are carefully monitored.
Rejuvenate
All passengers have complimentary entry to a meticulous retreat on Seahorse Deck 2, which has a Finnish sauna, steam room, sizzling tub, and chilly plunge pool. The Fehi Spa has two therapy rooms for passengers requesting a therapeutic massage or facial therapy. The trendy health middle has Technogym tools and free weights.
An open-air observe on Deck 3 is ideal for strolling or mild jogging laps to burn off energy. Subsequent to the spa, a magnificence salon on the ship gives haircuts, manicures, and pedicures for a further payment.
On-board immersion
A Viennese Waltz dance class, taught by Vienna’s Opera ballet soloists, is held within the Palm Court docket within the night. Mixologists provide lessons on making craft cocktails within the Cove and Vista bars, open from midday till late night. After dinner, Philippine pianist Angel performs nightly at the Piano Bar.
Shore excursions
Our journey started with an in a single day within the baroque Bavarian city of Passau, close to the German-Austrian border. Right here we boarded the Mozart. In every cease of our itinerary, Riverside supplied optionally available excursions of round three hours.
Melk
The spotlight of the riverside village of Melk is its magnificent Melk Abbey. Inbuilt 1089, the Benedictine abbey was reconstructed within the 18th century. Different excursions embody Artstetten Fortress, an Austrian farm, and a jaunt to Durnstein for wine tasting.
Vienna
As soon as the capital of the Hapsburg Empire, residence to such iconic figures as Johann Strauss, Sigmund Freud and Marie Antoinette, Vienna is stuffed with Baroque walkways and historic riches. A strolling tour of this Metropolis of Music options the imperial Hofburg Palace. Vienna’s hottest attraction is the spectacular Gothic-style St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Schonbrunn Palace, the opulent summer time residence of the Hapsburgs, options room after room of stately artwork alongside with imposing gardens and park. One other tour is to the famend Spanish Driving College for excellent efficiency by the Hapsburg-bred Lipizzaner Stallions.
Budapest
Hungary’s very walkable capital, dubbed “the Pearl of the Danube,” is blessed with wealthy art-nouveau structure, superlative bathhouses, and a vibrant restaurant, bar, and coffee-shop tradition. Sisi’s Palace in Godollo was the summer time residence of Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth (Sisi). Cruise passengers might even see essentially the most memorable sights of this metropolis with loads of free time for extra exploration and buying.
Bratislava
Slovakia’s understated capital stands on the Danube between Austria and Hungary. A guided strolling tour of the previous Gothic city and essential sq. ends on the Renaissance-style Bratislava Fortress and the ChatamSofer Memorial, recalling its Jewish Quarter. One other tour travels to the traditional village of Svaty Jur and Palffy Palace, identified for its wine manufacturing.
Krems
This Austrian enclave, gateway to the Wachau Valley wine area is one of many Danube’s prettiest cities. Vacationers could select to expertise Wachau’s top-quality wines, together with Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, or stroll round neighboring Stein a der Donau and its treasure trove of sights relationship again to the eleventh century, adopted by a tasting of apricot schnaps on the Bailon Distillery.
Mauthausen
The higher Austrian hamlet of Mauthausen was a Nazi focus camp from the annexation of Austria in 1938 till the tip of World Conflict II in 1945. A guided tour offers a glimpse right into a painful previous. One other tour is the Augustine St. Florian Monastery. The library, with a famed ceiling fresco, homes over 150,000 books. A guided nine-mile bike tour alongside the Danube stops at historic Enns, the place homes within the previous city date again to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Editor’s Notes: Please contact us for extra details about reserving a Riverside Cruises by electronic mail at quote@allthingscruise.com
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